Nelumbo plant named ‘Yanzhuang Zhaojun’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nelumbo  plant named ‘Yanzhuang Zhaojun’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; large medium green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and large red purple and white bi-colored globose-shaped flowers that are positioned above the foliar plane on moderately strong and erect peduncles.

Botanical designation: Nelumbo nucifera.

Cultivar denomination: ‘YANZHUANG ZHAOJUN’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Nelumbo Plant Named ‘Zhijiang Qiuyue’

Applicants: Xun Zhao & Yuchu Chen

Filed: Concurrently with this application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nelumboplant, botanically known as Nelumbo nucifera, commonly referred to asSacred or Indian Lotus, and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Yanzhuang Zhaojun’.

The new Nelumbo plant is a product of a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new Nelumbo plants that haveattractive and unique flower forms and flower colors.

The new Nelumbo plant originated from a cross-pollination in July, 2013of Nelumbo nucifera ‘Youyi Mudan’, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with Nelumbo nucifera ‘Ziqi Xilai’, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Nelumbo plant was discovered and selected by theInventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedopen-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hangzhou,Zhejiang, China in July, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nelumbo plant by rhizome divisions in acontrolled environment in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China since April, 2017has shown that the unique features of this new Nelumbo plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Nelumbo have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Yanzhuang Zhaojun’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Yanzhuang Zhaojun’ as a newand distinct Nelumbo plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Large medium green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large red purple and white bi-colored globose-shaped flowers        that are positioned above the foliar plane on moderately strong        and erect peduncles.

Plants of the new Nelumbo differ from plants of the female parent,‘Youyi Mudan’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nelumbo are smaller than plants of ‘Youyi        Mudan’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Nelumbo have red purple and        white bi-colored petals and petaloids whereas flowers of plants        of ‘Youyi Mudan’ have light orange-colored petals and petaloids.

Plants of the new Nelumbo differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Ziqi Xilai’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the newNelumbo have bi-colored petals and petaloids whereas petals andpetaloids of flowers of plants of ‘Ziqi Xilai’ are not bi-colored.

Plants of the new Nelumbo differ primarily from plants of Nelumbonucifera ‘Zhijiang Qiuyue’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent applicationfiled concurrently, in flower color as flowers of plants of the newNelumbo have red purple and white bi-colored petals and petaloidswhereas petals and petaloids of flowers of plants of ‘Zhijiang Qiuyue’are pale yellow and green white in color.

Plants of the new Nelumbo can be compared to plants of Nelumbo nucifera‘Zhaojun Guying’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants ofthe new Nelumbo differ primarily from plants of ‘Zhaojun Guying’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Nelumbo have twice as many        petals and petaloids as flowers of plants of ‘Zhaojun Guying’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Nelumbo have red purple and        white bi-colored petals and petaloids whereas flowers of plants        of ‘Zhaojun Guying’ have light violet-colored petals and        petaloids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Nelumbo plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Nelumbo plant. The photograph on the first sheet is a sideperspective view of a typical plant of ‘Yanzhuang Zhaojun’ grown in acontainer. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Yanzhuang Xhaojun’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 37-cm by 35-cmcontainers in an outdoor nursery in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China and undercultural practices typical of commercial Nelumbo production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 33° C.and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 28° C. Plants were one yearold when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical Classification: Nelumbo nucifera ‘Yanzhuang Zhaojun’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Nelumbo nucifera ‘Youyi Mudan’, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Nelumbo nucifera ‘Ziqi Xilai’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By rhizome divisions.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About eight days at            temperatures about 27° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; typically white to grey            brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Not freely branching, medium density.-   Plant Description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; moderately            vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of foliar plane).—About 91            cm.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of floral plane).—About 102            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 140 cm by 110 cm.-   Rhizome Description:    -   -   Arrangement and habit.—Sympodial branching habit with about            ten primary branches developing per plant each with about            three to ten secondary branches.        -   Length.—About 70 cm to 160 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.2 cm to 5.1 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 9 cm to 31 cm.        -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.        -   Color.—White, close to 155B.-   Leaf Description:    -   -   Length, fully expanded.—About 27 cm to 39 cm.        -   Width, fully expanded.—About 23 cm to 33 cm.        -   Shape.—Peltate, orbicular.        -   Apex.—Retuse.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire; undulate.        -   Venation.—Palmate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,            papery; moderately glossy.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138D. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137D; venation,            close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to N138B; venation, close to 144A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 74 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 6 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color:            Close to 144B.-   Inflorescence Description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Double-type globose-shaped flowers developing            directly from the rhizomes with numerous showy petals and            petaloids; about 16 flower buds and flowers developing per            plant at one time.        -   Time to flower.—In China, plants flower from June to August;            flowering continuous during this period; flowers begin            opening at 05:00 hours in the morning, flowers are fully            opened at about 06:30 hours and are typically closed by            09:00 hours.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four days on the plant;            flowers last about three days as a cut flower; flowers            persistent; plants maintain good substance for about 50            days.        -   Fragrance.—Initially, very faint and then not detectable.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 5 cm.            Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Close to 73C.        -   Flowers.—Shape and arrangement: Double-type, globose-shaped            with numerous showy petals and petaloids. Diameter: About            12 cm. Height: About 9.3 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About 260 arranged in            numerous whorls. Length: About 10.3 cm. Width: About 4.9 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Margins:            Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Slightly rugose, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Distally,            close to 64A; mid-section and towards the base, close to            NN155D; at the base, close to 8D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Distally, close to 64A; mid-section and towards the            base, close to NN155D; at the base, close to 8D; venation,            similar to lamina colors, close to 64A, NN155D and 8D; color            becoming closer to 156C with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 64C; venation, close to 64C; color            becoming closer to 156C with development.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: About 245 arranged in            numerous whorls. Length: About 5.3 cm. Width: About 4 mm.            Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margins:            Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Slightly rugose, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Distally,            close to 64A; mid-section and towards the base, close to            NN155D; at the base, close to 8D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Distally, close to 64A; mid-section and towards the            base, close to NN155D; at the base, close to 8D; venation,            similar to lamina colors, close to 64A, NN155D and 8D; color            becoming closer to 156C with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 64C; venation, close to 64C; color            becoming closer to 156C with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About six in a single            whorl. Length: About 6.7 cm. Width: About 3.8 cm. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:            When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Distally, close to            64A; mid-section and towards the base, close to NN155D; at            the base, close to 8D. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Distally, close to 64A; mid-section and towards            the base, close to NN155D; at the base, close to 8D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 108 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm to            1.9 cm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly erect.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Color: Close to 138C.        -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: About 34 to 73. Filament            length: About 3.4 cm. Filament color: Close to 4C. Anther            length: About 2.1 cm. Anther width: About 3 mm. Anther            shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 6C. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 6C.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: About 13. Pistil length: About            6.8 cm. Style length: About 2.9 cm. Style color: Close to            1A. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.            Stigma color: Close to 6B. Ovary color: Close to 145A.        -   Fruits.—Quantity per plant: About 32. Length: About 4.7 cm.            Diameter: About 8.8 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 138B.        -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on            plants of the new Nelumbo.-   Pathogen & Pest Resistance: To date, plants of the new Nelumbo have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to    Nelumbo plants.-   Temperature Tolerance: Plants of the new Nelumbo have been observed    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about −5° C. to about    41° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Nelumbo plant named ‘YanzhuangZhaojun’ as illustrated and described.